The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated that the infrastructure of racial justice in the US is under attack and encouraged Americans to protect civil rights, in a report published on Monday.
The ACLU’s report follows President Trump’s tribute to Black History Month. President Trump called on “public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
The ACLU stated that President Trump’s commemoration of Black History Month is inconsistent with his recent executive order ending federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Additionally, the union said the president’s executive order is impacting DEI efforts in education as the US Department of Education announced that it has taken measures to remove DEI initiatives under the recent executive order. The US Department of Education has also archived hundreds of reports, training materials, and other documents that reference DEI.
The ACLU stated that the President’s elimination of DEI is an attempt to erase Black history. The report referenced instances of racial oppression, such as Jim Crow laws, which are necessary for Americans to reflect on.
Several human rights organizations filed a lawsuit against Trump’s administration, claiming his recent executive orders “falsely assert” that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives are “illegal.” Another lawsuit was filed by the city of Baltimore and three civil rights organizations seeking to overturn the executive orders, which argued the orders violated constitutional protections and undermined efforts to promote equal opportunities.
The ACLU encouraged Americans to acknowledge the importance of Black history and fight against its erasure. The report stated that a large amount of US history “can be understood as the struggle to build an infrastructure of racial justice.”, adding that eliminating DEI efforts threatens the infrastructure of racial justice that America has struggled to build.